doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Marlin records?

Did Marlin lose a bunch of their manufacturing records in a fire at some time?

I've got an older 16 gauge Marlin 90 with serial# B316 and there seems to be a big void in the available Marlin records regarding these older marlin 90s.

Any help would be appreciated!

Post deleted by PA24

Dave:
The MARLIN Model 90 was built for Sears & Roebuck Co. at their request in 1936. The gun was invented by Ole Horsrud of Fox Grove, Ill., Pat # 2,376,358, filed on July 4, 1939 and was assigned to the Sears company. The 16 and 20 came out in 1937 with 26" and 28" barrels available....standard was a rubber butt plate, but a recoil pad could be ordered. After 1939 a 410 and combo rifle/shotguns were available. From 1937 thru 1942 approx. 15,000 model 90's were built...the 16's had 28" barrels and double triggers, marked J.C. HIGGINS....last ones built were in 1960...with your serial number I would say the gun was probably made in 1937, especially if it has double triggers and 28" bbls.
Cost was $39.90 in 1937 - hope this helps, happy holidays.

Some of the records are in the hands of the Marlin Collectors Contact Rick Regnier in Clay Center, KS

According to the Bluebook, Marlin Mod 90 can be dated before or after 1949 by the side ribs on the barrels. supposedly guns before 1949 did not have side ribs?? Also they have a partial serial list seem that post war guns had a letter prefix, the first letter they show is E for 1948, this could explain the low serial # if they started over each year. Don't take this to the bank, who knows if it is correct.

Jim

I have an old article by Don Zutz on the Model 90 in which he says the exact opposite of the Blue Book: earlier guns had the midrib but in 1949 the ribs were dropped. Not sure who's right on that score.

PA24, your post confuses me a little. You're not saying that all the Marlin 90's were made for Sears, are you? I've certainly seen Model 90's marked J.C. Higgins (and, I think, Ranger), but I've seen more of them marked just Marlin.

BLUEBOOK!!!! Are you kidding? It is next to worthless! It spreads more misinformation than a used car salesman!

There were 1,398 Model 90, 16ga with 28" barrels and double triggers from 1952 to 1957 and there were 1,060 made with a single trigger form 1954 to 1963.

There were 931 with 26" and DT and 1,039 with single trigger.

There were 927 16ga, DT and 28" barrels marked J.C. Higgins.

The 15000 or so guns form 1937 to 1942 have no breakdown as to gauge. All had Double Triggers.
Until 1949/1950 the barrels had ribs on the sides. After that time, the barrels were open and had a spacer block between the barrels at the muzzle(TO HELL WITH THE BLUEBOOK!)

In 1936, Sears, Roebuck amd Co. requested that Marlin make an O/U shotgun to be sold by Sears. Marlin agreed, as long as Marlin could also make and sell the gun with Marlin's name on it. However, the Marlin name was not to be marked on the guns delivered to Sears. The Sears guns were marked RANGER before WWII and J.C. HIGGINS after WWII. In 1945, Sears requested that the name of Marlin be added to the markings on their gun.

This information comes from Bill Brophy's book, "MARLIN FIREARMS".

L. Brown:

No, Marlin also manufactured the gun with their name on it, as you mentioned.....the agreement with Sears was, that JC Higgins-Ranger guns WOULD NOT have the Marlin name anywhere on the gun..until 1945 as Don mentioned per Sears request at that time.......thank you for pointing this out, sorry my post was confusing, BRgds and Happy Holidays....
Doug

I inheirited a Marlin Model 90 12 ga from my uncle (Marine Aviator during WW2 and was killed in a crash.) so unfortunately I never knew him . he was the only preceeding member of my family that hunted. He was a duck hunter and purchased his Mod. 90 sometime before he died. It has side ribs, DT and matted barrel, HRBP.